An electronic mobile device includes a base and a pivotable assembly that is pivotable relative to the base. A linkage connects to the pivotable assembly so as to be pivotable about a first axis and connects to the base so as to be pivotable about a second axis. As such, the pivotable assembly is pivotable relative to the base about the first axis and the second axis. The electronic mobile device further includes a guide mechanism that includes a guide path defined by one of the base and the pivotable assembly. The guide mechanism further includes a guide member supported by the other of the base and the pivotable assembly. The guide member moves along the guide path as the pivotable assembly pivots relative to the base to inhibit the pivotable assembly from simultaneously pivoting about both the first axis and the second axis.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. An electronic mobile device, comprising: a base; a pivotable assembly being pivotable relative to the base; a linkage connected to the pivotable assembly so as to be pivotable about a first axis and connected to the base so as to be pivotable about a second axis such that the pivotable assembly is pivotable relative to the base about the first axis and the second axis; a guide mechanism including: a guide path defined by one of the base and the pivotable assembly; a guide member supported by the other of the base and the pivotable assembly, the guide member moving along the guide path as the pivotable assembly pivots relative to the base to inhibit the pivotable assembly from simultaneously pivoting about both the first axis and the second axis.
An electronic mobile device has a base and a pivotable assembly that can rotate relative to the base. A linkage connects the pivotable assembly and the base, allowing rotation around two axes. A guide mechanism ensures the pivotable assembly doesn't rotate around both axes simultaneously. This mechanism includes a guide path (either on the base or pivotable assembly) and a guide member (on the other). The guide member moves along the guide path as the assembly pivots, preventing simultaneous rotation about both axes.
2. The electronic mobile device of claim 1 , wherein the guide path includes: a first path segment along which the guide member moves relative to the guide path as the pivotable assembly pivots about the first axis relative to the base; and a second path segment along which the guide member moves relative to the guide path as the pivotable assembly pivots about the second axis relative to the base.
In the electronic mobile device described previously, the guide path has two segments: a first path segment that allows the pivotable assembly to rotate around the first axis, and a second path segment that allows rotation around the second axis. The guide member moves along the appropriate segment as the assembly rotates around the corresponding axis.
3. The electronic mobile device of claim 2 , wherein the first path segment is defined by a first arc having a first radius, and the second path segment is defined by a second arc having a second radius different than the first radius.
The electronic mobile device with the two-segment guide path has a first path segment shaped like an arc with a first radius, and a second path segment shaped like a second arc with a second, different radius. This difference in radii allows for different rotational behaviors around the two axes (defined in Claim 2: a first path segment along which the guide member moves relative to the guide path as the pivotable assembly pivots about the first axis relative to the base; and a second path segment along which the guide member moves relative to the guide path as the pivotable assembly pivots about the second axis relative to the base).
4. The electronic mobile device of claim 3 , wherein the first radius is smaller than the second radius.
In the electronic mobile device, as described with the two arced guide path segments (Claim 3: the first path segment is defined by a first arc having a first radius, and the second path segment is defined by a second arc having a second radius different than the first radius), the first arc's radius is smaller than the second arc's radius.
5. The electronic mobile device of claim 2 , wherein the pivotable assembly pivots from a compact operating configuration to a landscape operating configuration and vice versa as the guide member moves along the first path segment, and the pivotable assembly pivots from the landscape operating configuration to a portrait operating configuration and vice versa as the guide member moves along the second path segment.
The mobile device with the described guide path (Claim 2: the guide path includes: a first path segment along which the guide member moves relative to the guide path as the pivotable assembly pivots about the first axis relative to the base; and a second path segment along which the guide member moves relative to the guide path as the pivotable assembly pivots about the second axis relative to the base) changes between compact and landscape operating modes as the guide member moves along the first path segment. It switches between landscape and portrait modes as the guide member moves along the second path segment.
6. The electronic mobile device of claim 5 , wherein the guide member is disposed at an intersection of the first path segment and the second path segment in the landscape operating configuration.
In the mobile device that switches between compact, landscape and portrait modes (Claim 5: the pivotable assembly pivots from a compact operating configuration to a landscape operating configuration and vice versa as the guide member moves along the first path segment, and the pivotable assembly pivots from the landscape operating configuration to a portrait operating configuration and vice versa as the guide member moves along the second path segment), the guide member sits at the intersection of the first and second path segments when the device is in landscape mode.
7. The electronic mobile device of claim 5 , further comprising: a first cam partially defining the first axis and being connected to the pivotable assembly so as to pivot therewith; and a first follower supported by the linkage and engaging the first cam to bias the pivotable assembly toward the compact operating configuration and the landscape operating configuration.
The mobile device described that switches between compact, landscape and portrait modes (Claim 5: the pivotable assembly pivots from a compact operating configuration to a landscape operating configuration and vice versa as the guide member moves along the first path segment, and the pivotable assembly pivots from the landscape operating configuration to a portrait operating configuration and vice versa as the guide member moves along the second path segment), has a first cam attached to the pivotable assembly that defines the first axis and pivots with the assembly. A first follower, supported by the linkage, engages with the cam to push the assembly towards the compact and landscape modes.
8. The electronic mobile device of claim 7 , further comprising: a second cam partially defining the second axis and being connected to the base so as to remain stationary therewith; and a second follower supported by the linkage and engaging the second cam to bias the pivotable assembly toward the landscape operating configuration and the portrait operating configuration.
Building on the device with the cam and follower system (Claim 7: a first cam partially defining the first axis and being connected to the pivotable assembly so as to pivot therewith; and a first follower supported by the linkage and engaging the first cam to bias the pivotable assembly toward the compact operating configuration and the landscape operating configuration), a second cam partially defines the second axis and is fixed to the base. A second follower, supported by the linkage, engages with this second cam, biasing the pivotable assembly toward the landscape and portrait orientations.
9. The electronic mobile device of claim 8 , further comprising a compression spring biasing the first follower and the second follower away from one another.
The cam and follower system (Claim 8: a second cam partially defining the second axis and being connected to the base so as to remain stationary therewith; and a second follower supported by the linkage and engaging the second cam to bias the pivotable assembly toward the landscape operating configuration and the portrait operating configuration) includes a compression spring that pushes the first and second followers away from each other.
10. The electronic mobile device of claim 5 , further comprising: a base cam partially defining the second axis and being connected to the base so as to remain stationary relative to the base; and a base follower supported by the linkage and engaging the base cam to bias the pivotable assembly toward the landscape operating configuration and the portrait operating configuration.
The mobile device with mode switching capabilities (Claim 5: the pivotable assembly pivots from a compact operating configuration to a landscape operating configuration and vice versa as the guide member moves along the first path segment, and the pivotable assembly pivots from the landscape operating configuration to a portrait operating configuration and vice versa as the guide member moves along the second path segment) also uses a base cam that defines the second axis and is fixed to the base. A base follower, supported by the linkage, engages this cam and biases the pivotable assembly toward the landscape and portrait orientations.
11. The electronic mobile device of claim 2 , wherein the linkage remains stationary relative to the base as the pivotable assembly pivots about the first axis relative to the base, and wherein the linkage pivots relative to the base as the pivotable assembly pivots about the second axis relative to the base.
In the electronic mobile device with the two-segment guide path (Claim 2: a first path segment along which the guide member moves relative to the guide path as the pivotable assembly pivots about the first axis relative to the base; and a second path segment along which the guide member moves relative to the guide path as the pivotable assembly pivots about the second axis relative to the base), the linkage stays still relative to the base when the pivotable assembly rotates around the first axis. However, the linkage rotates relative to the base when the pivotable assembly rotates around the second axis.
12. The electronic mobile device of claim 1 , wherein the guide path is a guide slot and the guide member is a guide post that extends into the guide slot and moves therein as the pivotable assembly pivots relative to the base.
In the electronic mobile device, the guide path is a slot, and the guide member is a post that fits into the slot. The post moves within the slot as the pivotable assembly rotates relative to the base.
13. The electronic mobile device of claim 1 , wherein the pivotable assembly includes a user interface device.
The pivotable assembly includes a user interface device.
14. The electronic mobile device of claim 13 , wherein the user interface device is a touch-sensitive display panel.
The user interface device in the pivotable assembly (Claim 13: the pivotable assembly includes a user interface device) is a touch-sensitive display panel.
15. The electronic mobile device of claim 1 , wherein the first axis and the second axis are generally parallel.
The first and second axes of rotation are generally parallel.
16. An electronic mobile device, comprising: a base; a linkage connected to the base so as to be pivotable about a base axis; a pivotable assembly connected to the linkage so as to be pivotable about a pivotable assembly axis disposed apart from the base axis, the pivotable assembly including a user interface device; a guide mechanism including: a guide member supported by one of the base and the pivotable assembly; a guide path defined by the other of the base and the pivotable assembly, the guide path including: a first path segment along which the guide member moves relative to the guide path as the pivotable assembly pivots about the pivotable assembly axis relative to the base; and a second path segment along which the guide member moves relative to the guide path as the pivotable assembly pivots about the base axis relative to the base.
An electronic mobile device includes a base and a linkage connected to the base, allowing rotation around a base axis. A pivotable assembly, containing a user interface device, is connected to the linkage and can rotate around a pivotable assembly axis. A guide mechanism, including a guide member and a guide path, controls this rotation. The guide path has two segments: a first segment allowing the assembly to rotate around its own axis, and a second segment allowing rotation around the base axis. The axes are separate from each other.
17. The electronic mobile device of claim 16 , wherein the linkage remains stationary relative to the base as the pivotable assembly pivots about the pivotable assembly axis relative to the base, and wherein the linkage pivots relative to the base as the pivotable assembly pivots about the base axis relative to the base.
In the electronic mobile device with the linkage, base axis and pivotable assembly axis (Claim 16: a base; a linkage connected to the base so as to be pivotable about a base axis; a pivotable assembly connected to the linkage so as to be pivotable about a pivotable assembly axis disposed apart from the base axis, the pivotable assembly including a user interface device; a guide mechanism including: a guide member supported by one of the base and the pivotable assembly; a guide path defined by the other of the base and the pivotable assembly, the guide path including: a first path segment along which the guide member moves relative to the guide path as the pivotable assembly pivots about the pivotable assembly axis relative to the base; and a second path segment along which the guide member moves relative to the guide path as the pivotable assembly pivots about the base axis relative to the base), the linkage remains stationary relative to the base when the pivotable assembly rotates around its own axis. However, the linkage rotates relative to the base when the pivotable assembly rotates around the base axis.
18. The electronic mobile device of claim 16 , wherein the pivotable assembly pivots from a compact operating configuration to a landscape operating configuration and vice versa as the guide member moves along the first path segment, and the pivotable assembly pivots from the landscape operating configuration to a portrait operating configuration and vice versa as the guide member moves along the second path segment.
The mobile device with two rotation axes (Claim 16: a base; a linkage connected to the base so as to be pivotable about a base axis; a pivotable assembly connected to the linkage so as to be pivotable about a pivotable assembly axis disposed apart from the base axis, the pivotable assembly including a user interface device; a guide mechanism including: a guide member supported by one of the base and the pivotable assembly; a guide path defined by the other of the base and the pivotable assembly, the guide path including: a first path segment along which the guide member moves relative to the guide path as the pivotable assembly pivots about the pivotable assembly axis relative to the base; and a second path segment along which the guide member moves relative to the guide path as the pivotable assembly pivots about the base axis relative to the base) switches between compact and landscape operating modes as the guide member moves along the first path segment (pivotable assembly axis). It switches between landscape and portrait modes as the guide member moves along the second path segment (base axis).
19. An electronic mobile device, comprising: a base; a pivotable assembly including a user interface device and being pivotable relative to the base; a linkage connected to the base so as to be pivotable about a base axis and connected to the pivotable assembly so as to be pivotable about a pivotable assembly axis; a guide interface including: a guide member supported by one of the base and the pivotable assembly; a guide wall defined by the other of the base and the pivotable assembly, the guide wall defining: a first path segment along which the guide member moves relative to the guide wall to permit the pivotable assembly to pivot about the pivotable assembly axis relative to the base and inhibit the pivotable assembly from pivoting about the base axis relative to the base; and a second path segment along which the guide member moves relative to the guide wall to permit the pivotable assembly to pivot about the base axis relative to the base and inhibit the pivotable assembly from pivoting about the pivotable assembly axis relative to the base.
An electronic mobile device has a base and a pivotable assembly containing a user interface. The assembly rotates relative to the base via a linkage that connects the assembly to the base, allowing rotation around a base axis and a separate pivotable assembly axis. A guide interface, including a guide member and a guide wall with two path segments, controls the rotation. One path segment allows the assembly to rotate around its own axis while preventing base axis rotation; the other allows base axis rotation while preventing rotation around the assembly's own axis.
20. The electronic mobile device of claim 19 , wherein the first path segment is defined by a first arc having a first radius, and the second path segment is defined by a second arc having a second radius different than the first radius.
In the electronic mobile device that uses the guide wall to control rotation (Claim 19: a base; a pivotable assembly including a user interface device and being pivotable relative to the base; a linkage connected to the base so as to be pivotable about a base axis and connected to the pivotable assembly so as to be pivotable about a pivotable assembly axis; a guide interface including: a guide member supported by one of the base and the pivotable assembly; a guide wall defined by the other of the base and the pivotable assembly, the guide wall defining: a first path segment along which the guide member moves relative to the guide wall to permit the pivotable assembly to pivot about the pivotable assembly axis relative to the base and inhibit the pivotable assembly from pivoting about the base axis relative to the base; and a second path segment along which the guide member moves relative to the guide wall to permit the pivotable assembly to pivot about the base axis relative to the base and inhibit the pivotable assembly from pivoting about the pivotable assembly axis relative to the base), the first path segment is shaped like an arc with a first radius, and the second segment is shaped like an arc with a different radius.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
March 28, 2011
June 25, 2013
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